Awards

MAJOR AWARDS

The Francis Alison Faculty Award (2011), University of Delaware, is “…the University’s highest faculty honor.” It is awarded to “…a faculty member of the University of Delaware who has made notable contributions to his or her field of study. Established by the Board of Trustees in 1978 to recognize the scholarship, professional achievements, and dedication of the UD faculty, the award confers membership in the Alison Society.”

The Urie Bronfenbrenner Award for Lifetime Contribution to Developmental Psychology in the Service of Science and Society(2011), American Psychological Association, with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, for “…an individual whose work has…contributed not only to the science of developmental psychology, and who has also worked to the benefit of the application of developmental psychology to society. The individual’s contributions may have been made through advocacy, direct service, influencing public policy or education, or through any other routes that enable scientific developmental psychology to better the condition of children and families.”

Distinguished Service to Psychological Science Award (2009), American Psychological Association, with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, for “disseminating and translating psychological research and making it accessible to policymakers and the general public through publications, public lectures and advisory roles with child-related organizations.”

Winner, Books for a Better Life Award (2004) for Einstein never used flash cards: How our children really learn and why they need to play more and memorize less (co-authored with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek). Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press.

Winner, in the Art Category, The National Best Books 2008 Awards, for Celebrate the scribble: Appreciating children’s art (co-authored with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek). Bethlehem, PA: Crayola Beginnings Press. Also finalist in the Education PreK- 12 category and the Parenting/Family Reference category.

Outreach: APA Spokesperson, interviewed and quoted disseminating the work of developmental and educational psychology to hundreds of radio stations, numerous print media outlets (magazines such as Time, Parenting, Newsweek, Wondertime, Child, etc.; newspapers all over the country). London Times (December, 2007): Three-page spread evaluating toys.

Exhibit, PlayWorks, at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, based on the ideas in our book, Einstein never used flash cards: How our children really learn and why they need to play more and memorize less. (2006, September).

Research featured on PBS series “Human Language; “Good Day Philadelphia;” “Good Morning America;” Fox Washington, D.C. morning show; National Public Radio; “Wake up Baltimore!”; Comcast Television Morning Show; and ABC World News; Year of Language Radio Project.

Supervised dissertation of Carol Harding, Recipient of George Herbert Ryden Dissertation Prize. University of Delaware, 1981.

Graduate Teaching Award, College of Education, University of Delaware, 1978.

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh. Sponsor: Dr. Robert Glaser, 1972-1974.

GRANTS

Over the years, I have been very fortunate to have my work on language development funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institue of Child Health and Human Development. I thank these agencies and all the people who are involved in the review process.

These grants are one of the reasons that I am so committed to writing popular press books. These books represent a kind of “payback” for the investment of your tax dollars in my work! It also gives me a chance to share the excitement of research and the significant findings that emerge with people who enjoy learning about children’s amazing capabilities.